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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Al Stewart "Unplugged": Timeless and Terrific Acoustic Live Performances,
By
This review is from: Rhymes in Rooms (Audio CD)
Only because the car I was driving at the time, had no compact disc player, I bought the original 1992 Mesa/Bluemoon release of "Rhymes in Rooms" in cassette format. After acquiring an auto which had an in dash compact disc player, and when I was upgrading my cassettes to compact discs, I was dismayed to no end that "Rhymes in Rooms" was out of print and that it was, as of 2003, fetching outrageously high "collectible" prices even for 'good' used copies. When I read earlier this year that Collectors' Choice Music (a subsidiary of Rhino Entertainment Company) was re-issuing essentially the entire Al Stewart catalogue, I eagerly purchased "Rhymes in Rooms". This is one of the finest live acoustic records I have ever heard. This re-issue contains all eleven songs on the original Mesa/Bluemoon release plus two interesting bonus tracks; a studio outtake, "Warm California Night" and a cover of Elvis Costello's 1994 song, "London's Brilliant Parade". "Rhymes in Rooms" contains inspired and sprightly live performances gathered from a tour that featured Al Stewart teamed up with jazz guitarist Peter White. No stranger to these tunes, White has collaborated with Stewart on both song writing and he has played guitar on many of Al's records dating back to Stewart's 1976 break out hit, "Year of the Cat". Together Pete and Al make musical magic on many of Stewart's best known songs, as their guitars weave in and out of the hauntingly melodic "On the Border", "Soho (Needless to Say)", and "Broadway Hotel". They achieve hypnotic transcendence on the epic "Nostradamus", a ten minute tour de force that captures the mystical essence of Stewart's ode to the medieval prognosticator.
Nicely balanced between hits and concert favorites, "Rhymes in Rooms" is how an "unplugged" album should sound like; an artist's songs that, stripped of their studio production and ornamentation, are left to reveal their rich melodies and great lyrics (the re-working of "Year of the Cat" is stunningly beautiful). The liner notes on the making of "Rhymes in Rooms" are well written and add context to these excellent live recordings. In short, this is essential Al Stewart, a true high point in his recording career.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Under the Radar,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Rhymes in Rooms (Audio CD)
Those of us who have listened as the "unplugged" craze unfolded over the years know how uneven some of those efforts can be. It seems that a lot of rock/pop musicians feel incomplete until they prove to the listening public and maybe also to themselves that they are serious musicians worthy of the respect of the public and their peers by issuing an "unplugged" album. And though there was never any doubt that Al Stewart is a serious musician, here comes the reissue of the acoustic live album Rhymes In Rooms which originally was released quite under the radar as a stop-gap followup to Last Days of the Century.
I found this just a couple of weeks ago while trolling the listings here for other Al Stewart re-issues. The previous reviewers seem quite enthusiastic and so while I often avoid live albums, the presence of long-time Stewart collaborator Peter White tipped the scales in favor of purchase. Well, it took a few listens but each time I heard this my enthusiasm grew. I like nearly every song in the original and so it is here. There are no real duds, but there are a few songs that could have been omitted in favor of others. Josephine Baker is one I never liked though I imagine Stewart was touring it because it was then of recent vintage. I would also have omitted the tired Nostradamus, trading it for another epic. To me the best are: Soho (Needless to Say), On the Border, Fields of France, Broadway Hotel, Leave It, Year of the Cat, and an early alternate version of the mystical Timeless Skies presented here as Warm California Night. Occasionally, the guitars overpower the vocals but White and Stewart play very well together and Stewart often sings with a passion not apparent on his studio releases. Even though I have been an Al Stewart fan for nearly forty years, I somehow missed this when it was originally released. Indeed, I never even saw it in my frequent trips to music stores. Once I read the liner notes, I understood why. One reviewer says that the liner notes provide context. I agree. Read them and your enjoyment of this CD, which belongs in the collection of any serious Al Stewart fan, will be enhanced.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I don't give "5"s out like candy, baby!,
By Bogus Exception (Norwich, Connecticut United States) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Rhymes in Rooms (Audio CD)
"_Thats_ what I'm talkin' 'bout!" Use "An acoustic evening with Al Stewart" as a coaster. I am.
Flying Sorcery - Sticks to the original format/structure of the studio release, but with just 2 guitars. I hear it like this and think the studio release, with all the extra instruments, is less effective. Soho - Chills. Sorry, but that is a good song, and it was too smooth and clamped (for you audiophiles out there) originally. It sounds liek the compressors were turned off for this album, and it was done "old school" like I do with live acts (only practical to try on non-percussion and bass elements). Time Passages - Again, with just 2 guitars the song has so much more impact, and sounds a lot less glossy that it's "made for radio" counterpart. Josephine Baker - What is an accordion doing in there? On the Border - Superb. The recordings on the album are done accoustically very well. Al and the 2 guitars are all distinctly and equally mixed. This version also has Al giving a nod to Peter White at the end for his solo(s) in the piece, just liek on the previous live release of the song. Also, the song "gets to it" faster than the studio version Nostradamus - The lyrics are a lot more legible. Imagine that! It seems to go by quickly, even though it is over 10 minutes. etc... You get the point!
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